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Welcome to the Rush City High School
Vocal Music Website!
Here's some general information about our department:
Singing at community events:
Members of the Concert Choir, and Vocal Jazz Choirs performed for the Rush City Small Business Saturday and Santa Parade on Saturday, November 25, 2023.
The Junior High Choir performed Holiday music for the residents of Rush Estates in Rush City, Minnesota, on Friday, December 14, 2023, during second hour.
National Choir Award:
Sierra received the 2014-2015 National Choir Award.
Samantha H. received the 2015-2016 National Choir Award.
Allissa received the 2016-2017 National Choir Award.
Haley received the 2016-2017 Choir Letter with Highest Honor.
Kate received the 2017-2018 National Choir Award.
Jenny received the 2018-2019 National Choir Award.
Eliana received the 2019-2020 National Choir Award.
John received the 2020 - 2021 National Choir Award.
Lola received the 2020 - 2021 Choir Letter with Highest Honor.
Amanda received the 2021-2022 National Choir Award.
Shane received the 2021 - 2022 Choir Letter with Highest Honor.
Levi received the 2022 - 2023 National Choir Award.
The 2023-2024 National Choir Award will awarded in May of 2024.
2019 photograph of Rush City High School vocal music students who participated in the 2019 Two Rivers Conference Solo/Small Group contest.
There are two (2) academic choirs (the Concert Choir and the Junior High Choir) and one (1) extra-curricular choir (the Vocal Jazz Choir) at Rush City High School. The Concert Choir is our school's top large ensemble consisting of men and women in the ninth (9th) through twelfth (12th) grades and rehearses during third (3rd) hour. Seventh (7th) and eighth (8th) grade students can sing in the Junior High Choir which rehearses during second (2nd) hour. Choir singers who are also registered for a RCHS band, rehearse with Mr. Montzka every other school day during their scheduled band hour. The Vocal Jazz Choir is our school's elite small ensemble and rehearses Monday and Tuesday mornings before school. Membership in the Vocal Jazz Choir is by audition only.
Members of the 2023-2024 Junior High Choir during a rehearsal.
In past years, the Concert Choir has studied up to once a week with Dr. David Kozisek, D.M.A. Dr. Kozisek is a faculty member at MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and he is on the music faculty at Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, Minnesota, where he is an Adjunct Instructor of Voice. Recently, Dr. Kozisek hailed from Washington, D.C., where he appeared frequently at the Kennedy Center with the Washington National Opera, The Washington Chorus, Washington Concert Opera, Cathedral Choral Society, and the National Symphony Orchestra among others. Dr. Kozisek, is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and Depauw University. He received his Master's Degree in Vocal Performance on fellowship at the University of Michigan and three years ago completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice at the University of Minnesota School of Music.
Two Rivers Conference Honor Choir Festival. This year members of the Concert Choir were nominated to attend the Two Rivers Regional Conference Honor Choir Festival. This festival took place on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at Pine City High School, 1400 Main Street, Pine City, Minnesota, 55063, from 10:00 a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. The public performance of this festival took place at 5:00 p.m. at P.C.H.S. A rehearsal was held at P.C.H.S. the morning of Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The Two River Conference Region consists of the public school districts of Pine City, Hinckley-Finlayson, Rush City, Ogilvie, Onamia, Braham, Isle and East Central. Click on Concert Choir Events for more details of this wonderful event.
Pictured to the left members of the Concert Choir participating in the Festival on January 6, 2024.
2021 photograph of Rush City High School vocal music student rehearsing with the Two Rivers Conference Honor Choir on December 15, 2021.
MacPhail Center for Music Master Class and Vocal Recital During 2017-2018 School Year. On Monday, March 12, 2018, 3:00 p.m. to approximately 9:00 p.m., Rush City High School select vocal music students attended and participated in a MacPhail Center for Music Master Class and Vocal Recital, 501 S. 2nd. Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401. The masterclass that we participated in and observed was just for Rush City High School vocal students and was taught by Drs. David Kosizek and Samantha Stinson. Four (4) of our students learned formal Art Songs for the master class and then performed them beautifully. After dinner, our students attended a vocal recital (Shakespeare as Lyricist) performed by Drs. Kosizek and Stinson. Dr. Stinson enjoys a diverse career as an operatic soprano, musical theater actor, and academic. Dr. Stinson holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music degree from the Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance from the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music. Dr. Stinson is currently an Instructor in the Music Department of St. Lawrence University.
Annual St. Olaf Choral Festival. St. Olaf College did not hold this event during the Pandemic. We anticipate possibly attending this event during the 2024-2025 School Year. Previously, members of the Concert and Vocal Jazz Choirs attended the 116th Annual St. Olaf Choral Festival, all day Sunday, November 4, 2018, Skoglund Center Auditorium, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, with a free public performance at 4:00 p.m. (Office of Admissions, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, Minnesota, 55057, 507-786-222.)
Minnesota State High School League Two Rivers Conference Choir/Large Group Contest. The Concert Choir will participated in the Minnesota State High School League Two Rivers Conference Choir/Large Group Contest on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at the First Lutheran Church, 1000 South Jay Avenue, Rush City, MN 55069. Last year, the Concert Choir was awarded a Superior Rating and an Excellent Rating from Dr. Jeffrey Hess, Normandale College and Dr. Lara M. Moline, St. Cloud State University, for the choir's participation in the contest in 2023. In 2022, The Concert Choir receive a Unanimous Supper Rating. The judges for the 2022 Choir/Large Group Contest were Dr. Richard W. Robbins, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota, Dr. Jeffrey Hess, Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota, and Dr. Lara M. Moline, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Also, in 2020, the Concert Choir received a Unanimous Superior Rating from all three (3) of the distinguished judges, at the Minnesota State High School League Two Rivers Conference Choir/Large Group Contest held on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at the First Lutheran Church, 1000 South Jay Avenue, Rush City, MN 55069. On March 6, 2019, Concert Choir received an overall Superior Rating based on its participation in the Contest. At the 2018 Contest, the Concert Choir received a Unanimous Superior Rating from all three (3) of the distinguished judges, all of whom have either current or prior college teaching experience.
Concert Choir members in the tenth (10th) and eleventh (11th) grades are eligible to audition in late February, of each year, for the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) All-State Choir Program. Audition recordings and application materials must be completed by February 15th of each year, to allow Mr. Montzka sufficient time to submit the recordings and applications to MMEA. Choir members preparing to audition should review a Lesson on the All-State Application prepared by MacPhail Center for Music.
Minnesota State High School League Two Rivers Conference Solo/Small Ensemble Contest. Members of the Concert Choir and the Vocal Jazz Choir will participate in this contest which was scheduled to be held in the morning and early afternoon on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Hinckley-Finlayson High School, 201 Main St. East, Hinckley, MN 55037. Members of the Concert Choir are also eligible to participate in this contest. At the 2018 Solo/Small Ensemble Contest, the Vocal Jazz Choir received a Superior Rating.
2023 photograph of a Music Booster work crew.
2023 photograph of Santa Days community event participants from the Vocal Music Department.
Thank you to the many students, parents, guardians, and friends of the Music Department who volunteer at Music Booster events!
Please contact Mr. Montzka if you are interested in giving a donation toward the purchase of a rebuilt Steinway Model B grand piano for the Rush City High School Vocal Music Department.
"Choral music is not one of life's thrills. It's something that goes to the very heart of our humanity, our sense of community, and our souls. You express, when you sing, your soul in song. And when you get together with a group of other singers, it becomes more than the sum of the parts."
John Rutter, English composer, in a June 27, 2014, interview by Tom Sabatino on the video, The Importance of Choir, published by J. W. Pepper and Son (2015).
"... musical experiences appear to connect brain structures that play essential roles in our development and well-being ..."
How and Why Does Music Move Us? Answers from Psychology and Neuroscience, by Donald A. Hodges and Robin W. Wilkins, Music Educators Journal, Volume 101, Number 4, June 2015, pages 41, 46.
"Music students gain the skills employers most want of teamwork, communication, problem-solving."Music Makes Us Whole
"Music strengthens the mind, lifts the spirit, and improves communities. It is essential for the well-being of children, adolescents and adults." Why Music Matters MacPhail Center for Music.